Harlem High School’s senior JROTC instructor resigned while under investigation for a reported sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.

Mitchell Sivas, 57, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, resigned March 4 when confronted by Harlem Principal Dietmar Perez, said Columbia County Schools Superintendent Charles Nagle.

Under Georgia law, a sexual relationship between a student and teacher from the same school is illegal even if the student is past the age of consent, said Columbia County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris.

Robert “Buddy” Hendry, the director of Columbia County School Safety Officers, died Saturday at his home in Evans. He was 68. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Platt’s Funeral Home, 337 N. Belair Road, Evans, with the funeral service to be held Tuesday. Hendry had been battling lung cancer since July. After a 28-year career with the Florida State Patrol, Hendry moved to Columbia County nearly 20 years ago and started a new career protecting the county’s pupils.

The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, but one woman was briefly trapped in her car after a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on Columbia Road.

The collision occurred when one vehicle turned in front of the other on Columbia Road at North Old Belair Road. One of the drivers had to be extricated from her car by Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue before being taken to the hospital.

Traffic briefly was slowed as a result of the crash, which was being investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.

The Columbia County Property Tax Office in Evans will be temporarily closed for renovations starting Monday.

During the renovations, property tax business – payments, homestead exemption applications, mobile home processing, etc. – will be conducted at the county Motor Vehicle Office in Building C of the Evans Government Center on Ronald Reagan Drive.

Columbia County's EMA Blood Drive Thursday for Shepeard Blood Center was deemed a success, shattering its goal for blood donations and setting a new county record.

The drive was held at the Columbia County Government Center Auditorium in Evans and at the Roads and Bridges office in Appling. A total of 241 people donated, with 64 donating in Appling, while 177 donated in Evans, said Columbia County Emergency and Operations Division Director Pam Tucker.

Classic City Marinas of Athens, Ga., will be offered a long-term lease for the Clarks Hill Lake site formerly known as Little River Marina, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

The company was one of three applicants that responded to the Notice of Availability to lease the marina site issued on Jan. 3 after corps officials opted not to renew the lease of the former operator, Pam Bugg.

The five boys who called themselves the “Charlie Rape Gang” didn’t receive significant additional punishment when they appeared Wednesday at a Columbia County school disciplinary hearing, but still face charges in juvenile court.

The Lakeside Middle School students were accused in February of surrounding other students and simulating sex acts while fully clothed. All five were suspended for the remainder of the week, which kept them out of school over the Presidents Day holiday weekend, and referred to the school system’s hearing officer.